Did you know Cleveland is home to a still-standing safe house that was occupied by slaves who were seeking freedom in the 1800s? The Cozad-Bates House is located on Mayfield Road in the University Circle neighborhood. The home, built in 1853, underwent a $2 million restoration before opening to the public for tours a few years ago, but it has not received much attention because the excursions began during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is changing. The home is included on the Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail created last year by Tourism Ohio to spotlight our state’s strong anti-slavery history. Free tours are offered every Saturday. The home also is open today from noon until 3 p.m. in honor of the Juneteenth federal holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The Wake Up newsletter will not publish Thursday because of the holiday and will return Friday morning. Wishing you an enjoyable Juneteenth.
— Kristen Davis
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The Cozad-Bates House is the oldest remaining pre-Civil War building in University Circle. |
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Cozad-Bates House: Before the Civil War, Northeast Ohio was a hotbed of abolitionism, dotted with safe houses and sites where fleeing slaves could find refuge. Susan Glaser reports that very few of those places exist today. One that still stands: The Cozad-Bates House, a brick beauty on Mayfield Road in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood, built in 1853 and almost knocked down earlier this century. Juneteenth establishment: It took a concerted effort by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Ohio’s Joyce Beatty, to pass legislation establishing a federal Juneteenth holiday on June 19 of every year, reports Sabrina Eaton. Beatty, a Columbus Democrat who chaired the Congressional Black Caucus when the legislation passed, says her organization worked with congressional leaders to steer the bill through Congress in 2021 and get it signed by President Joe Biden. Gas tax: Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio leaders will have to consider how they will pay for future road projects, hinting that doing so may require lawmakers to look at hiking the state gas tax or making other changes to account for an increasing number of electric vehicles on the road, reports Andrew Tobias. DeWine brought up the topic on Monday as he and state transportation officials announced a proposal to overhaul a stretch of U.S. 23 north of Columbus to ease traffic congestion. Capital budget: State lawmakers have officially unveiled a $4.2 billion capital budget that includes hundreds of millions of dollars for a wide assortment of Northeast Ohio projects, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The budget plan, which legislators intend to pass before the end of the month, tabs nearly $32 million in previously unannounced funding for projects in the Cleveland-Akron area, including for parks, the arts, museums, and social services. Today in Ohio: Chef Travis Petersen blamed the cancellation of his upcoming “Nomadic Nights” cannabis dinner on a cleveland.com reporter, who asked state and police officials about the legality of Petersen buying cannabis for his meals. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about Petersen’s misguided anger toward a reporter who was just doing her job. |
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Sickle cell: Canaan Evans, a Cleveland gene therapy patient, told his story to lawmakers in Washington, reports Sabrina Eaton. Last week, he visited the nation’s Capitol for Children’s Hospital Association’s Family Advocacy Day with his mother and doctors. The group met with Ohio Congress members and staffers to seek healthcare funding, money for children’s hospitals, insurance assistance and easier access to the sort of gene therapy trials that eliminated his sickle cell symptoms. Voting lawsuit: The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday intervened in a lawsuit filed over an Ohio law that makes it a felony for someone other than a postal worker or close relative to handle someone’s absentee ballot, reports Adam Ferrise. Extracurricular funding: Families that have been awarded money from a state program to pay for activities before and after school will get another year to spend their money, reports Laura Hancock. The deadline to spend the cash from the Afterschool Child Enrichment Education Savings Account is now Sept. 1, 2025. Previously it was July 1. |
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Bibb’s driver: Mayor Justin Bibb’s driver told crash investigators that he was rushing Bibb to an “emergency meeting” at the time of Thursday morning’s crash, reports Courtney Astolfi. The driver offered that explanation to Cleveland police’s Accident Investigation Unit in the aftermath of the crash that happened around 9 a.m. at Superior Avenue and East 12th Street. Traffic laws: After Mayor Justin Bibb’s crash, the Cleveland City Council president says his own driver follows traffic laws, reports Courtney Astolfi. Blaine Griffin expects his driver to follow all traffic laws -- and he generally does, Griffin said. City Hall reopens: More than a week after a ransomware attack wreaked havoc on the city of Cleveland’s computer systems, City Hall is bracing to reopen at noon Thursday, reports Courtney Astolfi. Visitors should know that not all services will be available. 'Superman' disruptions: Production on DC’s upcoming movie will shut down streets in downtown Cleveland starting Thursday, reports Joey Morona. The city didn’t name the film, but signs on several faux storefronts, buildings and light poles in Public Square and along Superior Avenue indicate it takes place in Metropolis, the city where Clark Kent works as a newspaper reporter. Engineering schools: Ohio State and Case Western Reserve University are the best engineering schools in Ohio, according to U.S. News and World Report, reports Zachary Smith. Juneteenth: Cliff Pinckard reports on what is expected to be closed for today's holiday, which honors the end of slavery in the United States. |
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Multiplying plants: It’s mid-June and most vegetable gardeners have already moved on to pruning their tomato plants instead of transplanting them. It’s far too late in the year to plant more tomato seedlings. Or is it? Sean McDonnell finds out in Saving You Money. MediCLE: Gretchen Cuda Kroen and Julie Washington talk about recent research in DNA diagnostics, emergency intubation, battery life and the health of stunt people in Hollywood. Cedar Fair: Cedar Fair announced Tuesday that it expects its planned merger with Six Flags to be complete by July 1, reports Susan Glaser. The company also announced the senior management team that will lead the new amusement park behemoth – and it looks a lot like Cedar Fair’s current management team. |
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Operation Heatwave: Cleveland’s Operation Heat Wave, an attempt to curb crime in the city this summer, debuted last month with police seizing kilos of drugs and dozens of guns. Olivia Mitchell reports the update to the initiative. Vehicle crash: Two police officers and two others were hurt early Tuesday in a crash involving a patrol cruiser in Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. The accident happened at 2 a.m. at East 79th Street and Bessemer Avenue. |
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Laura Caso: WKYC Channel 3 anchor Laura Caso is leaving the station and Cleveland, reports Joey Morona. Caso’s last day is Friday. Soul food: In honor of Juneteenth, Alex Darus reports on the soul food scene in Cleveland. Ask Yadi: Should you hold your applause at graduation ceremonies if instructed to do so? Yadi Rodriguez answers in Ask Yadi. LGBTQ+ musicians: Peter Chakerian takes a look at the numerous queer musicians who are popular right now and the discourse surrounding them. Barware: The first nationwide midcentury barware show of the 21st century — Bottoms Up — will be in Lancaster, Ohio, this weekend, reports Paris Wolfe. Lancaster is about 32 miles southeast of Columbus and was the home of many glass manufacturers in the last century. |
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Medina adds full-time position, intern to law department Read more Crash on I-90 in Lake County kills 87-year-old driver Read more City of Beachwood to buy Fairmount Temple property for $8 million Read more New developers back at drawing board for Turkey Ridge townhomes in Cleveland Heights Read more Brecksville service garage that caught fire in February had no smoke detectors; 4 city vehicles were destroyed Read more Ohio State BUGmobile teaches curiosity about bugs in the garden (and shower) Read more Shaker Heights officials play long game on future city recreation plans Read more |
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